Voltage problem?

Ok, first, sorry for posting so much I just have a lot of questions is all.

So, we were told that it's a voltage/power problem with the Smart Colors. Apparently we don't have enough of it on the catwalks to power them.

Solutions?
Ideas?
Is that even a logical theory?
 
1. Somebody's signature here is something like "A question unasked is a question unanswered". I forget who, but its a good policy.

2. If you don't have enough power up there, its probably not a voltage problem, but rather an amperage problem. The breakers or fuses are not rated to handle all the power that everything up there sucks up.

Logical theory -yes
Solution - Contact a professional electrician.
 
First of all, ask as many questions as you have, we are happy to answer them!

Second, you have to get in the habit of giving more description of your problems. What isn't working? How many scrollers are you using? Which SmartPower power supply or what power supply are you using for the scrollers? What is the power supply plugged into? How much scroller cable are you running (ie. what is the total length of cable used to connect all he scrollers on the power supply)?

If you answer a few of those questions, we can offer better help.
 
1. Somebody's signature here is something like "A question unasked is a question unanswered". I forget who, but its a good policy.

2. If you don't have enough power up there, its probably not a voltage problem, but rather an amperage problem. The breakers or fuses are not rated to handle all the power that everything up there sucks up.

Logical theory -yes
Solution - Contact a professional electrician.

I must argue with you on that. If you want me to get into the nitty gritty of digital signals I will but I doubt anyone wants that. But power is indeed lost over cables and there are times were you could simply not have a high enough voltage to tell the thing to turn on. On one of the shows my company does there are three bubble machines, two older analog style ones and one that is newer and runs off digital signal. The digital one only works if the building is able to give us a full 208V at the distro. If we're on the city power grid and all the houses near by have their AC on we might only get 202V at the distro. 250 feet of cable later the voltage might be as low as 195V. In that case the bubble machine will sit there and never do anything at all. This is so common that our Production Director doesn't even ask about it anymore. So I would say there is a possibility it's a voltage problem.

In the end though we both agree that the only good solution I can think of (after metering you power at the Apollo power supply and telling us what you get there) is to call a licensed electrician and have them see what can be done to get the appropriate amount of power where you need it to go.

And answering all the additional questions that icewolf mentioned would be a good idea too.
 
Ok, I'll work on being more descriptive.

We currently have none hooked up. They are all sitting in the booth doing nothing. We tried last year to hook them up and we got one up and never could get it to turn on.

We do have two Studio Spots on each cat, and two in each juliet if that helps you at all.

I don't know if I can call anyone or anything because I'm just a student and my director just said "Fix it." So...yeah...
 
Ok... lets talk...

You have these, correct?

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Which of these do you have?

1.
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2.
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3.
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After answering that, how have you been hooking them up in the past? Also, when you powered them up in the past did they at least start up? Any lights come on?
 
Yes. I have those.

I know I have 2. I'm thinking that 1 and 3 are in the boxes with the scrollers.

Yes, we tried last year and no the lights wouldn't come on.
 
Well, it is possible you have a bad power supply. When you are in tomorrow, do this...

Plug in the power supply by itself to a known working outlet. Does the green light come on?

If it does, take a 4pin cable and run it out of the power out jack into the IN jack of the scroller. Does the green light come on in the scroller?
 
Im surprised that you dont get any scrollers at all. To me it sounds as if you have a bad outlet or a bad power supply. I have used the power supply that footer first mentioned (1) and have powered up at least 6 scrollers (although they are the model right before the ones you have). The method Footer described should work really well to help you find the issue.
 
Have you found out the problem yet?
 
No. I tried to. Justin and Danny and I spent almost an hour and a half searching for those other two pieces but someone moved them so we gave up until we can find them. Then Justin and I got sidetracked by the issue with the worklights.
 
If you are having problems with a product, the best and first thing to do is call the manufacturer. They are the ones that know the most about the product. Yes, lots of people on CB may know quite a bit about a product, but that is just because of their experience with it. The manufacturer knows all the possible issues and fixes.

Soooo.... Give me a call!!

(Also, I'm not sure you understood Footer. He was asking which one of the three you had.)
 

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